Café Bibliotec Hello!

Unwind in a 100 Year Old Machiya

Food

Service

Atmosphere

After a day of seeing more temples than the Buddha probably ever did, it feels good to find a place to unwind, have a simple meal and re-energize over a latte. Located in one of Kyoto's Machiya – the traditional wooden townhouses that one finds along narrow backstreets – Café Bibliotec Hello! is an expression of the subtle balance of old and new that Kyoto is famous for. The atmosphere is a mixture of stylish retro café and warm old wooden Machiya, complete with fireplace. The café is lined with bookshelves, hence the name, and guests are welcome to read whatever they like. There are tables for two, a large shared table near the door, sofas for lounging and, for the romantic willing to brave the wooden staircase, there are even tables in the loft overlooking the main floor. I highly recommend the sofas for the weary traveler or for anyone looking for a bit of downtime with a book. 

As far as food is concerned, you can’t go wrong with the smoked chicken & herb salad sandwich or a Brownie Rich and a coffee. And on your way out, why not pop in the semi-attached bakery next door and pick up some delicious pastries for the road.

Apparently many of these Machiya have been lost to modernization, but thankfully they are starting to make a comeback as creative architects convert the remaining ones into designer clothing shops, ryokan and fashionable restaurants like Café Bibliotec Hello!